Demersal trawl discards with spatial and bathymetric emphasis in the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to investigate the spatial and bathymetric distribution of demersal trawl discards in the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea. Trawl hauls were performed in the legal trawling areas of the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea (Çanakkale, Foça, Karaburun, Sığacık, Güllük) between 2010 and 2012 by commercial trawlers. Depth of the trawl hauls ranged from 30 m in the south to 450 m in the north. As a result of 311 trawl samples, 200 species belonging to eight taxonomic groups (Porifera, Cnidaria, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Tunicata, Chordata) were identified. The changes in species composition based on depth and region were determined to be statistically significant. It was found that species composition distinctly changed around 200 m. In a regional assessment it was determined that the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea is divided into three sub-regions, i.e. Çanakkale, Foça-Karaburun-Sığacık and Güllük. The results of similar studies conducted in the Mediterranean were investigated and compared with the findings of this study.

KEYWORDS:

• Turkey
• Aegean Sea
• discard
• bathymetry
• trawl

SUBJECT EDITOR:

• Francesc Maynou

Acknowledgement

The present study was supported and funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) under Grant 109Y274. We also thank the skippers and the crew members of the commercial trawlers for their collaboration and hospitality.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by TÜBİTAK [grant number 109Y274].